Influence of Foliar Spray with Different Doses of Zinc (ZnSO4) at Various Crop Stages on Seed Quality Parameters of Harvested Seeds

A laboratory experiment was conducted to analyze the influence of foliar spray and stages of zinc application on seed quality parameters of harvested radish seeds cv. Japanese White in laboratory of the Department of Seed Science and Technology, Dr Yashwant Singh Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, Solan (HP). There were 12 treatment combinations as 0g/l zinc at bolting stage, 0g/l bolting +14 days after first application, 0g/l at bolting +14days +28 days after first application 1g/l zinc (ZnSO4) at bolting stage, 1g/l bolting +14 days after first application, 1g/l at bolting +14days +28 days after first application, 2g/l at bolting, 2g/l at bolting +14 days after first application, 2g/l at bolting +14 days after first application+ 28 days after first application, 3g/l zinc at bolting stage, 3g/l bolting +14 days after first application, 3g/l at bolting +14days +28 days after first application. The experiment was laid out in CRD (completely randomized design) as well as RCBD( Randomized complete block design) design Among treatment combinations Zn2S1 (2g l-1 at the time of bolting) was found superior in every aspect of quality attributes i.e. 1000 seed weight (14.36g), germination of harvested seeds (85.75%), seedling length (24.20cm), seedling dry weight (11.31mg), seedling vigour index-I (2,075.08) , seedling vigour index- II (966.77), electrical conductivity (0.017 dSm-1), accelerated ageing test (78.25%) and cold test (81.00%).